EAA's AirVenture Oshkosh

The AirVenture Oshkosh festival is a dream come true for true aviation nerds. At this huge event—the largest non-military air show in the world—you can see everything from sea plane bases to home-built aircraft. From airplanes to rockets to drones, if it can be piloted, it can be represented at this annual fly-in air show.

Every year, aircraft enthusiasts gather in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the event, which is hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The EAA was founded in 1953 for people who revere flight and specifically those who love to build and re-build recreational aircraft. Its first fly-in was held in September of that year and 150 people attended. It has grown exponentially since then.

Now called AirVenture Oshkosh, the air show’s current home is the Wittman Regional Airport, and it attracts more than half a million people from 80 different countries. The summer event also brings in more than 10,000 planes, making the Wittman the world’s busiest airport during the week of events. FAA air traffic controllers compete for the opportunity to work AirVenture Oshkosh, and there is a special Notice to Airmen published outlining the details of aircraft movements and safety procedures.

Attractions range from classic planes like B-29s and to performances by the Navy’s Blue Angels to innovations in airplane building. It’s truly a place where even people without a previous interest in airplanes might feel differently by the end.